Clasp for dental mirrors



Dec. 0, 1 924. 1,521,1 114 E. E MAYEDA ems? FOR DENTAL MIRRORS FiledJune 13, 1923 Patented Dec. 3%, 1924.

NETED STATES CLASP FOR DENTAL MIRRORS.

Application filed June 13, 1923.

T aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, E'rsUJI E. Mariana, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clasps for Dental Mirrors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for maintaining dentalmirrors in compact assembled relation, whereby they may be relativelydetached to facilitate pen sonal inspection of the teeth, and internalmouth. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of a relativelysimple and practical type of clasp for the type of dental mirrors setforth in my co-pending application,

' Serial No. 468,331, filed May 10, 1921.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel claspdevice embodying detachable parts which may be mounted upon differentarticles so that the articles may be maintained in compact detachablerelation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of dental mirrors heldin assembled relation by the novel clasp means.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a dental mirror showing a portion ofthe clasp as a permanent part thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional iew, taken substantially on theline 33 of Figure 1..

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the clasp as shown inFigures 1, 2, and 3.

Figure 5 is a modified type of clasp.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clasp details illustrated inFigure 5, showing the same disassembled.

Figure 7 is anovel and further modified form of the improved-clasp.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but thepreferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the preferred form of clasp, which may include sections B andC for respective connection'upon the dental m r ors, D a d E.- The fi tmodified form Serial No. 645,219.

of clasp F may include interengaging sections G and H and the secondmodified form of clasp K may include sections L and M.

Referring to the preferred clasp A, the section B as well as the sectionC thereof is formed of stamped sheet metal or any other analogousmaterial, and these sections are respectively mounted upon the handgrips or shanks 11 and 12 of the dental mirrors D and E. The mirrors Dand E are of the type specifically set forth in my copending applicationabove referred to and each include a circular disc shaped frame 18, bothof the same diameter, supported at the upper end of the hand grip shanks11 and 12; said frames 13 being arcuately flanged, as at 1 1, to receivereflecting elements 15 therein. The clasp means A is mainly provided tomaintain the mirrors D and E in a stable relation, so that the arcuateflange portions 1 1 of said mirrors are in abutting relation to enclosethe reflecting surfaces of the reflector elements 15 in a compartment,so that dust and other foreign materials may not settle upon thereflecting surfaces when the mirrors are not in use.

The section B is preferably formed of a single piece of material and ofuniform height about the same. It is formed about the shank 11 of themirror D as to be rigid thereon; the ends and 21 being bent about theshank 11 to abut, as on a oinder line 22. The section B when thusdisposed about the shank 11 provides a substantially oval shaped opening24 through which the shank 11 is disposed, thus providing an articlegrip portion, so to speak. At the side of the article grip section B,opposite the joinder line 22, an outstanding crimp or socket portion 25is provided,which provides a socket opening 26 opening at each edge ofthe section 1), into which an attaching tongue 28 of the section C mayfit. The socket opening it; is not solely provided by the section B butintermediate the outstanding portion 25 and the facing surface of themirror shank 11, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 3 of thedrawing.

Referring to the section C, the same proferably includes an attachingportion 30 preftially parallel spaced relation at a side of theattaching portion 30. This section C is assembled in fixed relation uponthe mirror shank 12, and is adapted to have the tongue 28 detachablydisposed within the socket 26 of the section 13, substantially as isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, whereby the mirrors Dand E may be maintained in an assembled relation, substan tially inaccord withthe invention set forth in my copending application abovereferred to.

Referring to the modified form of this invention, as illustrated inFigures 5 and 6, the sections G and H are similarly formed respectivelyto the sections B and C above described, except that the sections G andH are adapted for mirror handles of "special shape. To this end, thesection B. intermediate its ends is provided withthe socket portion 35,outwardly from which the arms 36* and 37 extend; said arms 36 and 37preferably being concavo-conveX to provide the substantially concavedfacing pockets 38 and 39' respectively therein for receiving the shank11 of a mirror D. In this type of section G, the end edges 40 and ll ofthe arms 3 n and 37 respectively, are in spaced relation; said arms 36and 37 acting in the nature of resilient arms to grip the shank 11 sothat the section G may maintain a fixed relation upon the shank 11. Thesocket portion 35, when the section D is upon the shank 11, of courseprovides a socket opening 36 into which the tongue 37 ofthe section Hmay extend substantially after the manner above described for thepreferred embodiment of this invention.

The section H similarly includes the concavo-convex arms 42 and 48',respectively providing facing pockets 4% and 15 for receiving the shankportion 12 of a mirror-E therein. The end edges 17 and 18 of the arms42an'd 43 respectively, of course, are in spaced relation, at theoutside of the shank-12, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 5ofthe drawings.

Referring to the further modification of this invention'as illustratedin Figure 7, and which type of'clasp' is prefe -ably adapted for thebetter grade of mirrors, in which it is not desired. that the sectionhave a crimped'socket. lhe section L of the clasp K preferably includesan inner band 50, which is-clainped about a mirror shank- 51 to conformto the configuration of the same; the. marginal edges at the ends of theband 50 being spaced at the inside of the shank 51. An outer clampingband 55 is also pro- I vided as a part of the section L, the ends 56 and57 thereof being arcuate and clamped over the ends of the bands 50, sothat the intermediate portion of the band 55 extends across the spacedesigned by the end edges 52 and 53 of'the band 50, so that a socketopening 58 between the intermediate por tion of the band 55 and theinside of the shank 51 is provided, for receiving the tongue 59 of thesection M which is clamped to the shank 60 of another mirror. It is tobe noted that the end edges of the arms 56 and 57 are spaced for aconsiderable distance on the outside of the band 50, so that it canreadily .be seen that the section L readily adapts itself to variousconfigurations of mirror handles. 7

Referring to the section M, the same includes an inner band 62 which maybe of any configuration to be snugly placed about the shank 60, and uponthe upper marginal edge of which the tongue 59 is provided, much in thesame manner as above described for the preferred embodiment of thisinvention. An outer band (35 is also provided) as a part of the sectionM, the ends 66' and 67 of which grip about the band 62 at the ends ofthe latter and the intermediate portion of which band is disposed aboutthe band 62 at the tongue side thereof. The endedges 69 and 70 of theband 65 'are'spaced at the outside of the band 62 for any desired disstance. The tongue 59 is of course detachable from its socket opening58, .mu'ch in the same manner as above described for other forms ofthisinvention.

From' the above description of the improved dental mirror clasp, it isobvious that the mirrors'may be maintained in a precise and definedrelation when assentbled, in accordance with features ofthe arrangementset forth in my copen'dingapplication above referred to.

Various changes ini the shape, size'a-nd arrangement of parts may bemade to the form of invention herein' shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invent-ion or the scope of the claims.

I claim: 7

1. As an article of'manufacture, a clasp for mounting on the shanks ofdental mirrors for holding the mirrors together comprising a sectionmounted on on'cshank of a mirror to provide a; socket opening, and asecond section mounted on the shank of another mirror to provide aprojection for detachable engagement in the socket openin g of the firstsection whereby 1 the sl'ianks may be maintained" in assembled relation.

2'. As an article ofmanufacture, clasp for dentalmirrors comprising asection of sheet material providing air'opening for receiving theshanlcofa mirror therein, and being struck outwardly at a side thereofto provide a socket opening, and a second section. providing an openingfor receiving the shank of another dental mirror, andhaving an outwardlyextending depending tongue for detachable engagement within the socketopening of" the first mentioned sect on.

3. As an article of manufacture, a clasp for dental mirrors comprising asection bent intermediate its ends to provide a socket opening andhaving the ends thereof outwardly bowed so that the end edges thereofare in spaced relation, and a second section having bowed arms with theend edges thereof in spaced relation, and a tongue upstanding from thetop margin of said second section and depending in spaced relation eXterior of said second section intermediate the arms thereof.

4. As an article of manufacture, a clasp for dental mirrors comprising asection in cluding an inner ring and an outer ring the inner ring havingthe end edges thereof spaced to provide a socket opening in saidsection, and a second section including inner and outer rings the innerring providing an upstanding and outwardly depending tongue fordetachable engagement in the socket opening of the first mentionedsection.

ETSUJI E. MAYEDA.

